Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

Ratings Explanation

Language:  A few common swear words and a few uses of the names of Deity.  Doug talks back to adults, especially teachers who show a lack of understanding for him.  Doug’s father makes cruel comments to his mother.  Some name calling from Doug’s peers and teachers.

Violence:   Father hits his sons when frustrated.  War protesters spit and yell at a returning soldier who is blind and without both of his legs.  Protesters’ posters belittle the efforts of soldiers and are painted grotesquely in red.  Some bullying from Doug’s peers and teachers at school.

Sexual Content:  Doug has feelings for Lil and enjoys her company and kind comments

Adult Themes:  Father and his friend often go out drinking leaving the family behind. Doug’s father and friend smoke during lunch breaks at work.  Doug’s father physically forces him to get a tattoo against his will for his birthday. Doug’s father justifies his actions at home and at work by blaming his so-called incompetent boss for all of his own problems. The town folk shun Doug, thinking he may be the suspect for the recent robberies.  Protesters of the Vietnam war spit on Doug’s brother, a returning soldier who is an amputee and blind.  Description of sketches made by a Vietnam Veteran depicting some of the horrors of the war.  Doug’s father steals his prized jacket, baseball and prize money to give to his friend.  Lil becomes critically ill with little chance of survival.

Synopsis

Doug Swieteck is trying to survive in a new town with no friends and a dysfunctional family.  Doug can’t stand being home when his dad and brother are there.  He finds himself roaming around the town, checking out his new surroundings.  As he is resting on the library stairs, a girl persuades him to go inside.  The librarian is not pleased to see a stranger in her library who must be up to no good. Doug escapes her glares by climbing the stairs to the second level.  Here he notices a glass case in the middle of the room.  Inside is a very large book with a beautiful picture of an Arctic Tern (a sea bird) drawn by the famous Mr. Audubon.  The image captures the bird diving into the sea, seemingly out of control staring at the viewer with eyes wide open.  The picture captures Doug’s emotions immediatly.  He sees himself in that picture falling out of control through the sky with no one to help him.  A male librarian sees Doug’s intense observation of the picture and offers to show him how to draw it.  Doug is snapped back into reality, rudely refuses and leaves.  The picture haunts Doug and he eventually returns to the library to see it again.  Doug eventually accepts the offer of drawing lessons and learns that several of the pages from Audubon’s book have been sold to earn money for the city.  Doug decides that his purpose is to restore the lost pages and make the book whole again.  His journey leads him to people that help him find courage and strength within himself and healing for his family.  As Audubon’s book becomes whole again, so does Doug.